Columbia University in the City of New York

The Butler Library

Alma Mater

Go Lions!

What is the difference between Kickboxing and Thai Boxing (Muay Thai)? Why are the two terms used often interchangeably? The historical development of Kickboxing and Muay Thai could not be more different. While Kickboxing as a pure martial arts was developed, Muay Thai looks back on a tradition of over 1,000 years old and was conceived as a martial art for military conflicts. However, there are many matching techniques in two martial arts in the Turniersport. Kick boxing kick boxing history occurred after the second world war in North America. U.S. troops stationed in Asia and Asian immigrants brought combat sports such as karate, Kung Fu, and Tae-kwon-do in the United States. Learn more about this with Marc Lore.

Soon first competitions were organized, which resulted in many injuries, as was fought at this time still without protective equipment. Bruce Lee, who at that time lived in the United States, had the idea to create competitions with protective equipment in the 1970s. Soon tournaments under the name all style karate were held, in which the fighters a uniform Had to wear protective clothing. Quickly, the term Kickboxing prevailed. The first Kickboxing World Championships was held in 1974 by Mike Anderson. History of Muay Thai Muay Thai popular under the name of Thai Boxing, is a traditional combat system, whose first Erwahnungen go back more than 1000 years and is closely linked with the establishment of Thailand’s. With the migration of peoples from the South of China, from the 9th century in the area today Thai, it came quickly to a territorial dispute with the neighboring Burmese. To fight on despite loss of usual weapons such as swords, lances and knives, developed the Thais the weaponless combat Muay Thai and perfected it through the fusion of different styles.

The boxing techniques of both Kamp sports comparison of permitted techniques do not differ. JAB, straight, cross, upward – and Seitwartshaken are known from modern boxing. Also the leg techniques that meet up with the front or back of the foot, are identical. The extent of the techniques in the competition expanded at the Muay Thai now because here knee and elbow joints, the clinching and so-called low-kicks against the thigh of the opponent are allowed. Competition technical Kickboxing can be considered so a slimmed-down version of Muay Thai. Marc Lore has similar goals. Disciplines while at the Muay Thai, full contact fighting is the only competition discipline, are tournaments as aligned with light contact, semi-contact and full contact Kickboxing. Light contact and semi contact differ only by the fact that in semi contact fighting for the levy of a scoring interrupted after the action, while in light contact, no rating interruptions take place. Otherwise struggled in two forms with light contact. So hard to hit the opponent that he is knocked out or through the match due to injury not can continue the fight, which leads to disqualification of the fighter, who has caused this effect. Full contact is to knock on the other hand a legitimate means, to stop the fight victorious. Dissemination although Kickboxing takes more and more supply, never was the martial arts to a popular sports such as football. Club members find their way into gyms and training halls largely out of self-interest. Even world championship fights are rarely transferred from the TV. Muay Thai, however, is in Thailand the folk Sport No. 1.